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What Tool Brand(s) do you prefer
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autotecha
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Nov 8, 2011, 8:01 PM
Post #1 of 36
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What Tool Brand(s) do you prefer
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Thought I'd stir the pot up a little here.
I have a mixture of different brands in my boxes but mainly Matco and SnapOn.
Which brand(s) do you have or prefer? Any certain reason?
Not looking to buy or sell here (unless someone has a new scanner for $10 LOL). This question always comes up when a bunch of us are siting around bsing.
*******ASE Master Automotive Technician, L-1, L-2 and a lot of wallpaper too :-)******
(This post was edited by autotecha on Nov 8, 2011, 8:17 PM)
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Discretesignals
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Nov 8, 2011, 8:18 PM
Post #2 of 36
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Re: What Tool Bran(s) do you prefer
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I like Stanley and the tools you find at flea markets and Harbor freight. The chrome Vanadium Chinese combination wrenches are the bomb. My favorite is the candy plastic handled screwdrivers. I love when they crumble in my hand and I have to use a pair of vise grips on the shaft to get a screw out.
Can't ask for better quality:
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autotecha
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Nov 8, 2011, 8:24 PM
Post #3 of 36
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HAHAHA
I think I'm going to sell off all of mine and get a few sets of those.
I like the plastic tonka toys ones with the tool belts
*******ASE Master Automotive Technician, L-1, L-2 and a lot of wallpaper too :-)******
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Hammer Time
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Nov 8, 2011, 8:24 PM
Post #4 of 36
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They work just fine. You just have to use vise grips on the outside of the open end wrenches so they don't open up when you pull on them.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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autotecha
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Nov 8, 2011, 8:52 PM
Post #5 of 36
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Its funny, I was joking with my local Matco dealer a few days ago and told him about my cheap tools I have. I have a set of Northern tools (Basic set for the kids car), I have abused the heck out of them and I mean abuse and have not broken a single one yet (except for an extension 3/8" the ball came out) and have broken more of my Matco ones with a lot less abuse (same with SnapOn too).
*******ASE Master Automotive Technician, L-1, L-2 and a lot of wallpaper too :-)******
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Tom Greenleaf
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Nov 8, 2011, 10:25 PM
Post #7 of 36
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My own stuff is from all over and many brands that are good but company no longer in biz. Won't buy another Snap-On screwdriver ever yet they do make nice stuff in general.
The Northern Tool Chinese cheap stuff is mostly for a small tool box for trunk of cars or home use. Some high quality stuff comes from China as they'll make what is asked for,
T
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Tom Greenleaf
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Nov 9, 2011, 5:03 AM
Post #10 of 36
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You can't keep track of who owns who these days! Just fun and there's tons more - some brand names of quality tools now out of biz.....
Cornwell - as far as I know
Proto
Crescent
Goodwrench! (best bet made by S/O)
FORD! Yes - they made tools!
S-K -- Think was out for a while but back
____________________________
I know there are tons more. Those just some I own off the top of my head........
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autotecha
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Nov 9, 2011, 1:08 PM
Post #11 of 36
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I believe cornwel is still out there (maybe they quit producing their own) the cornwell dealer is still out doing his routes around here (even though I dont buy from him unless I absolutely have to). I havent seen a Mac dealer in a long time up here, just Matco and SnapOn.
You know, Craftsman isnt too bad either. I was looking through my tools in my shed and I have a complete set that is in good conditon (almost not used) and remember they did the job good, but I think they are mainly good just for home/dyi projects and not professional grade.
There was a china brand out, but I cant remember the name and they were pretty good too.
*******ASE Master Automotive Technician, L-1, L-2 and a lot of wallpaper too :-)******
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Hammer Time
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Nov 9, 2011, 1:48 PM
Post #12 of 36
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I'm on the complete diagonal opposite end of the country from you and we haven't seen a Mac dealer in ages although there was a rep around a few weeks ago setting up a route.
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autotecha
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Nov 9, 2011, 4:42 PM
Post #13 of 36
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A guy I used to work for awhile back was a Mac dealer then quit because he wasnt making sales due to Matco and SnapOn competition so he opened his own Independ shop (which he is running into the ground too... thats a whole story in itself :( ).
I dont believe Mac operates in our area or even west of Seattle but I could be wrong.
I went to pick up my daughter from school an hour or so ago because she sprained her ankle bad in gym, and I saw the Cornwell dealer driving by and not even 2 minutes later see the Matco going in the other direction (of course he called me and wanted to sell me the cordless impact I've been looking at :-) ).
Next question: I want to get a good 1/2" and 3/8" cordless Inpact (makes it easier on the mobile business instead of using the aircompresser) any good recommendations out there? I want something that can bust lugs and also engine work etc...
*******ASE Master Automotive Technician, L-1, L-2 and a lot of wallpaper too :-)******
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Hammer Time
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Nov 9, 2011, 5:03 PM
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I don't know of any electrics that can produce enough torque to be reliable on lug nuts or crank bolts.
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autotecha
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Nov 9, 2011, 5:13 PM
Post #15 of 36
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I've seen them "rated" upto 450 ftlbs (Matco and Snapon). Just interested in hearing if anyone on here has used them or have better recommendations. I've only talked to the dealers and of course they say they are good to go. Would rather hear from actual users. I really want to get rid of the air compresser in the mobile truck 
*******ASE Master Automotive Technician, L-1, L-2 and a lot of wallpaper too :-)******
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re-tired
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Nov 9, 2011, 8:21 PM
Post #16 of 36
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I have an battery powered snap-on 1/2" drive gun . It works great It will take off /back on a few cars before any slow down . My son , who now owns it , has taken a front wheel off his dually with it. I give it a thumbs up . BTW did any of yall see if snap -on still has the choke tester I menbtioned in tricks of the trade section.
LIFE'S SHORT GO FISH
(This post was edited by re-tired on Nov 9, 2011, 8:27 PM)
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Sidom
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Nov 9, 2011, 10:32 PM
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I'm old school an any thing electric really wasn't worth a sh*t so all my stuff is air.. I will have to say in recent years it really looks like the technology has caught up. I seen some of the younger techs stuff, tried it once & a while and will have to say it's pretty decent stuff.
S/O has a real good line, I actually bought their little electric screwdriver with a blue point bit set & 2 4" phillips bits and that is awesome. It has an adjustable clutch on it so you won't strip the smaller screws and without it, you would be stripping screws, it is very powerful. It's great for dash work. You do 2 or 3 heater cores & it will seriously pay for itself in the time you save.
Maybe in the future I might get some, I just have so many other needs. I was in the boneyard today & heard a couple guys using one....& though ok...there is another use I didn't think of. My air hose isn't long enough to get from the shop to here.....
I think Mac is on the outs, I haven't seen a dealer in years & if one ever came around I wouldn't buy anything from him, I have so many different Mac sets of tools filled with S/O replacements cuz I can't get the broken ones warrantied.
I'm S/O only from now on. In the last 3 years we have had 2 different Matco dealers and it's crazy,,,they are more expensive than S/O, price check them...
I have a very good S/O dealer, he lives 3 blocks away from me, always has everything on his truck. If you need a tool, he will get it to you. If he is out of town he will make arrangements to meet somewhere. No matter who you are he'll deal with you. I had one on those cable hose clamp tools I bought from Matco. I broke the cable & Matco wouldn't warranty it. He was going to sell me the replacement kit for $30. My S/O dealer has a guy on his route with the tool to put a good end on the cable (Those kits are cr*p) So I figured if I have to buy the kit, I'll buy it from my guy since I'm going to have him get an end put on it.......He warrantied the cable for me & had an end put on it.
Back in the day Mac & Matco was always cheaper than S/O, that's the reason I have the different assortments....When I was younger I just couldn't afford to go S/O only & could get more thru the other 2...... Now Matco is more expensive??????? More power to them but if it's S/O & it's cheaper.........Why would I buy Matco??????
(This post was edited by Sidom on Nov 9, 2011, 10:35 PM)
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autotecha
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Nov 9, 2011, 10:43 PM
Post #19 of 36
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I feel the same way, nothing beats the air! But with my Mobile Repair business I want to do away with the air compresser in one of my vehicles and use the cordless in that vehicle. For airing up, blowing etc... I can use the onboard air (york) for that (its not big enough for tools but for inflating its perfect.).
As for SnapOn being cheaper then Matco... I guess its what you are buying, I've seen it go both ways. I like them both and both dealers here so I try to give equal business to each. Matco gives me a better discount on items that are on the truck, but SnapOn gives better discounts on catalog orders.
I also have a couple of those hose clamp tools (cable operated), I think one of them was SnapOn??? and the only problem I've had is the cable binding up on one of them. I love those tools, saves a lot of hassle at times. I'm old school an any thing electric really wasn't worth a sh*t so all my stuff is air.. I will have to say in recent years it really looks like the technology has caught up. I seen some of the younger techs stuff, tried it once & a while and will have to say it's pretty decent stuff.
*******ASE Master Automotive Technician, L-1, L-2 and a lot of wallpaper too :-)******
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Sidom
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Nov 9, 2011, 11:26 PM
Post #20 of 36
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Oh don't get me wrong.....Matco & Mac are quality tools. Actually Macto's design on that tool was better than S/O, it had a ratchet lock, where S/O was one shot at the end.
It could be just my area but it comes down to service & price. I have got the best from S/O and like I mentioned earlier we have gone thru a few Matco dealers in the last years and in those gaps, if you break something, you're screwed. You have to buy the same tool from S/O.
One of the last Mac guys I dealt with was a good guy & I bought a lot from him ( I have a Mac box now I'm try to unload), near the end he was telling me that Mac was going to be screwing the dealer. Stanely owns them and he told me there was talk of putting the tools in hardware stores and the pricing was going to be the same as his. I don't know how much that plays into the lack of dealers these days......But where talking 3 different corners of the country singing the same Mac song.....
I've talked with both dealers & it really sounds like S/O supports their dealers better than Matco. Whether it's tech support, warranty issue, etc. Like that cable I mentioned, it wasn't like the guy blew me off, he tried to warranty it but couldn't get it done & I don't expect him to have to eat it but on the reverse it wasn't like I was thrilled about it either....
An with S/O, the guys in the shop were saying my guy only did that for me because of all the money I spend with him, but I did ask him if was eating it as goodwill because if the was the case I would pay for the cable but he said he was able to get the cable warrantied... He was telling me he gets very little hassle on warranty. I had a $300 pressure transducer that carried a year warranty, of course 13 months later the readings were skewed, I was there when he called it in & it went thru no problem.....I have had amp probes, wire piercers, etc go south....he takes care of it.....a lot of that stuff isn't cheap & when you have to double buy, it's killer.....
If it was one Matco dealer then I would just chalk it up to a bad dealer....I've gone thru 3 dealers with different warranty issue, been there some of the times when their trying & it gets declined........Warranty is huge with me.....
Since you are a mobile business, I think electric would really be the way to go. The only thing I'm not sure of at this point is how well they hold up.....Most of my air stuff is older than my youngest kids & still going strong.....With the new wave of the electric stuff...I'm sold on the power, now it's just a matter of how long will it last, the tool & the batteries....
(This post was edited by Sidom on Nov 9, 2011, 11:31 PM)
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autotecha
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Nov 10, 2011, 1:01 AM
Post #21 of 36
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I understand 100% were you are coming from. To me warrenty is also a big issue when we are shelling out thousands of dollars a pop on a tool or diagnostic piece/tool. I have found that most of the dealers are good to go IF they have good backing from their companies. Most will go out of their way to not only make the sale but to back it up. My Matco dealer has eaten quit alot when helping others out on things that are past warrenty, but usually on his steady and loyal customers. Hell I've given mine over $50,000 in the time I've known him and even more to SnapOn and he helps me out big time on discounts, specials etc... He's very reliable and there when you need him. I bought a used box from him and it kept breaking a slider and he replaced for free (three times) and it wasnt even on warrenty. Now the SnapOn dealer would've charged, but even so I like him too (we all have to make a living).
I've talked to others in different parts of the USA and they say SnapOn dealers are better. I guess its all about location and the person running it.
But will say, as to MAC I wasnt impressed. I liked some of their stuff but felt and I could be wrong, that their tools were more inline with craftsman quality. I did like a few of their boxes back in the day. If I was in your area I'd be talking to you about that box of yours. I need two more I think (to add to the 5 and one cart I already have).
I also understand what you mean about the cordless ones and it concerns me too. I want to know if these are going to last for more than six months; if the battery will last more than 20 minutes; if the torque is really that high etc... I really do want to go this route so I can elimate the air compresser in the Bronco. I set the bronco up as a service vehicle for use in the mountains when its snowing and muddy roads etc.. where my service vans cant get to. Its amazing how much I've got packed into the bronco (Tool boxes, equipment, compresser, etc...) but it is a full sized 82 setup.
I'm concerned these cordless ones will only torque up to their high torque for one or two apps then drop down quickly as battery charge starts dropping. I never looked at their warrenties yet, but am guessing 1 year.
Speaking of costs for tools etc... I wonder how much I've put into tools over the years? Probably over $150,000 or so for me, this doesnt include the business side. Me and my wife talked about it awhile back, we figured with my A.A degree, various training courses, tools etc.. I could've went to Med school and paid less. But thats ok with me, I love doing this. I love fixing vehicles and helping people.
Sorry rambling on here. Just waiting at the ER still and tired.... almost ready to leave.
Oh don't get me wrong.....Matco & Mac are quality tools. Actually Macto's design on that tool was better than S/O, it had a ratchet lock, where S/O was one shot at the end.
It could be just my area but it comes down to service & price. I have got the best from S/O and like I mentioned earlier we have gone thru a few Matco dealers in the last years and in those gaps, if you break something, you're screwed. You have to buy the same tool from S/O.
One of the last Mac guys I dealt with was a good guy & I bought a lot from him ( I have a Mac box now I'm try to unload), near the end he was telling me that Mac was going to be screwing the dealer. Stanely owns them and he told me there was talk of putting the tools in hardware stores and the pricing was going to be the same as his. I don't know how much that plays into the lack of dealers these days......But where talking 3 different corners of the country singing the same Mac song.....
I've talked with both dealers & it really sounds like S/O supports their dealers better than Matco. Whether it's tech support, warranty issue, etc. Like that cable I mentioned, it wasn't like the guy blew me off, he tried to warranty it but couldn't get it done & I don't expect him to have to eat it but on the reverse it wasn't like I was thrilled about it either....
An with S/O, the guys in the shop were saying my guy only did that for me because of all the money I spend with him, but I did ask him if was eating it as goodwill because if the was the case I would pay for the cable but he said he was able to get the cable warrantied... He was telling me he gets very little hassle on warranty. I had a $300 pressure transducer that carried a year warranty, of course 13 months later the readings were skewed, I was there when he called it in & it went thru no problem.....I have had amp probes, wire piercers, etc go south....he takes care of it.....a lot of that stuff isn't cheap & when you have to double buy, it's killer.....
If it was one Matco dealer then I would just chalk it up to a bad dealer....I've gone thru 3 dealers with different warranty issue, been there some of the times when their trying & it gets declined........Warranty is huge with me.....
Since you are a mobile business, I think electric would really be the way to go. The only thing I'm not sure of at this point is how well they hold up.....Most of my air stuff is older than my youngest kids & still going strong.....With the new wave of the electric stuff...I'm sold on the power, now it's just a matter of how long will it last, the tool & the batteries.... *******ASE Master Automotive Technician, L-1, L-2 and a lot of wallpaper too :-)******
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autotecha
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Nov 15, 2011, 6:21 PM
Post #22 of 36
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I'm going with the Snapon 1/2" and 3/8"cordless impacts. I played with them and they seemed good. Broke loose lugs and other high torque bolts/nuts.
They are lighter than the ones I was looking at and better warrenties. Getting two sets of each for now and updates for my Vantage Pros that I forgot about so the Snapon dealer is happy and I think I will be too. After a little field use of these I'll post up my evaluation of them if anyone is interested.
I
*******ASE Master Automotive Technician, L-1, L-2 and a lot of wallpaper too :-)******
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
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Nov 15, 2011, 6:41 PM
Post #23 of 36
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The Mac man actually came up to me yesterday and told me that if I would just give him 20 dollars a week by using the MAC credit card he would be able to stay afloat. I told him sorry, but that isn't my problem.
I thought Cornhole went belly up? We have a few that stop by every week: USA Tools, Matco, Mac, and Harvey's Tools. Matco guy couldn't sell his way out of a paper bag. Snap-off doesn't come around here anymore, he frequents the dealership up the road.
I haven't used any of the electric impacts. Can you get parts for them such as an anvil or socket retaining rings?
My boss has the worst set of tools. They are name brands, but completely worn out. He is very hard on tools with busting sockets, breaking the ends off screwdrivers, stripping out ratchets, etc. He doesn't oil his guns, so every once in a while I'll hear him with a impact going full blast cause the spring rusted out in the trigger as the socket flies across the shop because the anvil is broke and the retaining ring is missing. I am finding him more and more getting stuff out of my box and that just ain't right...LOL.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Nov 15, 2011, 6:51 PM)
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autotecha
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Nov 15, 2011, 6:52 PM
Post #24 of 36
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The Mac man actually came up to me yesterday and told me that if I would just give him 20 dollars a week by using the MAC credit card he would be able to stay afloat. I told him sorry, but that isn't my problem.
I thought Cornhole went belly up? We have a few that stop by every week: USA Tools, Matco, Mac, and Harvey's Tools. Matco guy couldn't sell his way out of a paper bag. Snap-off doesn't come around here anymore, he frequents the dealership up the road. Doesnt surprise me on the MAC man.... have seen one here in awhile. Cornwell dealer is operating up here (I dont know if he's just selling what he has left or still operating as usual because I dont deal with him but see his truck all the time). Surprise the Matco guy isnt doing good down there, I guess its all about location. I personally like my dealer and his tools, same with SnapOn, but prefer Matco over the two except snapon has the good diagnostic's, havent had any issues yet with them. We dont have USA tools or Harvey's here.
Harvey's doesnt ring a bell.
*******ASE Master Automotive Technician, L-1, L-2 and a lot of wallpaper too :-)******
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autotecha
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Nov 15, 2011, 6:55 PM
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Just googled Cornwell and it looks like they are still in business. At least their website is still up and taking orders.
*******ASE Master Automotive Technician, L-1, L-2 and a lot of wallpaper too :-)******
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